Sign.



E. KREHEB. snm.

lpgggylro APPLICATION HLED JAN. 6. l9l6- Patented Apr- 10 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. KREHEH.

SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 5| 1916.

Patented Apr. l0, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ERNEST KREHER, F TAMPA, FLORIDA.

SIGN.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

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Application led January 6, 1916. Serial No. 70,637.

To all whom z' may concern: Y

Fe it known that l, ERNEST Kunnen, a

` citizen of the United States, residing at Tampa, in the county of Hillsborough and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Signs, of which the following is specification.

rlhe present invention relates to an iinproved sign for displaying advertisements, directions and regulations for motor vehicle operators, or the like, and has for an object to provide a sign which may be secured high up on a pole or tree or other support by a person standing on the ground and using a sign applying tool, such, for instance, as shown and described in my co-pending application filed of even date herewith for a sign applying tool under Serial No.' 7 0,638.

Another object of this invention is to provide sign with a supporting piece, penetrating prong, or piercing point, which may be inserted or driven into place at any desired angle relative to the support, and which permits the subsefpient adjustment of the sign into the desired display position; and to provide one or more braces to support the sign against pressure of the wind, jars, and the like, and also for use particularly in hanging heavy signs.

lilith the sign of the present invention not only may it be located at a considerable height above the ground, but may be made to overhang a roadway or other course of travel in such manner as to be readable from either side and to be visible for a considerable distance in either direction of travel.y TWith such a sign there is no liability of accumulations of dirt and the like between the sign and its support, or the lodgement of water bach of the sign, which often results in the rusting of metal signs. Because of the construction of the sign it is readily placed so high above the ground as to be out of reach and relatively free from injury. rilie sign is particularly useful for imparting information to operators of motor vehicles, since it may be easily read without 'the necessity of turning the head to one side for the purpose.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, talren in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the further understanding that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications come within the scope of the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the sign as applied to a tree, the full lines showing the sign after it has been correctly adjusted, while the dotted lines show the position of the sign while the piercing point is being driven into the tree.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the upper' part of the sign of Fig. 1, showing the combined bendable connection and withdrawing mein ber between the piercing point and the supportingarm of the sign.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the portion of the sign shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. l is a side elevation of the supporting arm and the piercing point, showing a modified form of bendable connection between the two.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the modified form shown in Fig. fi.

Fig. (i is a side elevation of the preferred forni of sign, as applied to a tree, the sign being adjusted and braced in proper position for display.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view thereof, the supporting tree being in section. Y

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the upper end of a slightly modified form of sign.

Fig. 9 is a similar View of a further modified form of sign.

Fig. 10 is an end edge view of the sign shown in Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views, 10 designates a sign body which may be of any approved form, shape, or material, but which, in the present instance, is disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, as comprising a flat plate of metal, paraffin paper, or other suitable material or composition, to withstand the weather, and retain the data to be placed thereon. The body 10 of the sign is supported upon a rod or arm 11 secured to the body 10 by clips 12 of any desired form, but shown in the present instance as comprising straps passing over the arm 11, and having their opposite ends fixed against the opposite sides of the body l0 by rivets 13, or other suitable fastening devices` The plate or body 10 may be supported on the rod or arm 11 as shown in Fig. 8, wherein the clips 12 are replaced by the looper or overturned upper edge 12a of the body 10a to provide an elongated sleeve at the top of the sign through which the supporting arm 11 passes. Another means for securing the sign body to the arm 11 is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In this form the upper end of the body 10h is provided with a plurality of slits or cuts spaced lengthwise of the body. The portions of the sign body 10b between the slits are alternately bulged outwardly from the opposite sides of the body to provide, as shown in Fig. 10, a plurality of alining clips 12b through which passes the supporting arm 11.

At one end of the rod or arm 11 there is a supporting member 14 in the form of a penetrating` prong or piercing point having a substantially wedge-shaped pointed outer extremity. The piercing point 14 is `joined to the corresponding end of the rod or arm 11 by a bendable connection, which in the preferred form consists of a flattened portion 15 integral with the rod and the piercing` point. The flattened portion is so arranged that it may extend horizontally in the installed position, so as to permit easy bending of the connection by movement of the rod 11 in a vertical plane. he width of the flattened portion 15 reinforces the rod 11 against bending in a horizontal plane in the installed position of the sign, which bending might otherwise be brought about by wind pressure or other similarly applied forces.

The bendable connection 15 may be formed in various ways, as, for instance, the part where the bend is to take place may be annealed, it only being necessary that the rod be capable of local bending lwithout bending the remainder of the rod. It is desirable that the rod remain straight at all times, and that the bending be localized to a point close to the piercing end of the rod.

This flattened portion 15 provides edges or shoulders which project laterally from the arm 11, and from the piercing prong 14;, which receive and hold a claw, or any suitable tool or instrument, which may be used for removing the sign. 'Ihe fiat-tened portion therefore forms a withdrawing member for the prong 111.

In Figs. e and 5 of the drawing a. modified form of the bendable connection is shown, wherein the arm 11 is provided with a flattened lug 15nh upon its inner end and which extends preferably in a` vertical plane. The piercing point 1%?" is provided with a like flattened lug 15b, which extends in a. vertical plane, and which overlaps the lug 15a, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The two lugs are frictionally and hingedly secured in overlapping relation by means of a rivet 15C, the latter binding thc lugs together to hold the arm 1la from swinging except upon the application of a purposely applied force of sufficient intensity. If more friction be desired it may be brought about in various well known ways. At the end of the rod or arm 11 remote from the piercing point there is provided a blow-receiving yportion 17 consisting of an extension of the sign carrying portion 17, the same comprising an extension on the outer end of the arm 11. This extension 17 serves not only to receive the blows of a hammer, but also provides for an engaging portion, by mea-ns of which the sign may be held in place while the piercing point is driven into the support, and for the purpose of bending the sign up into its normal position. Y

`In the preferred form of the invention, disclosed in Figs. 6 and 7, the body 10 of the sign is provided with one or more Vbraces 18. Any number of these braces may be used, and they may be positioned at any desired angle to secure the proper support of the sign. In Figs. 6 and 7, there is shown Va pair of braces 18 having their outer ends flattened to provide ears 19, through which extends a pivot pin 20, which may be in the form of a rivet, or the like, to securely hold the outer ends of the braces against the opposite sides of the sign body 10, at preferably the lower edge of the latter. The brace arms V18 extend inwardly and downwardly to the support 16 and terminate in prongs or piercing points 21,adapted to be driven into the support 16. The piercing points 21 are provided upon their outer ends with extensions or abutments 22, in line with the piercing points and extending outwardly past the inner ends of the arms 18. In other words, the extensions 22 and the piercing points or prongs 21, comprise a single length of rod metal which forms substantially a T-head upon the inner end of each brace arm 18, and which is disposed ob-liquely across the inner end of each brace arm, so that the abutment-s or extensions 22 may be laccessible for receiving the blows of a hammer, and also to receive the upper end of the sign attaching tool above referred to, and which forms the subject-matter of my copending application. It is to be understood that the attaching heads of the braces 18 may be disposed at any convenient or desired angle upon the inner ends of the braces for admitting of the easy application and adjustment of the braces to the support.

For the purpose of retaining the body 10 from slipping oft that end of the rod 11 remote from the piercing point, the rod is traversed by a pin 23 in the path of the outer end of the sign body 10 or'the clips 12 thereof. The pin 23 also serves as a stop or abutment against -which the sign applying tool set forth in the copending application before referred to may be applied.

To secure the sign to the support or tree 1G at a height considerably above Ythe reach of the operator, the sign is placed with the piercing point 14 against the tree, and in an inclined position, such as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the outer end of the arm 11 is struck, with a hammer or other suitable tool to drive the piercing point 14 directly into the tree. After the piercing point has been driven home, as shown in Fig. 1, the arm 11 is swung up into a substantially horizontal position, the bendable connection admitting of the swinging of the arm about such connection, as a pivotal point, so as not to destroy the rectilinear contour of the arm or the adjustment of the sign body 10 thereon.

After the arm 11 has thus been secured to the support 16, and has been raised into the horizontal position shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the braces 18 are swung into position to engage their attaching heads against the support 16. This adjustment may be effected by my improved sign' Vattaching tool above referred to, or may be adjusted by hand. The extensions 22 are now forced inward, by blows of a hammer, or otherwise, to force the piercing points 21 into the support 16, and thus anchor the inner ends of the braces 18 in position. By having the braces 18 diverge from their point of connection to opposite sides of the sign body 10 toward the support, the sign is securely braced against the lateral wind pressure or other forces tending to bend the sign out of place. Although one brace 18 may provide a substantial support, two such braces may beand usually are desirable, and this is particularly true with signs of considerable weight, for they relieve the rod 11 to a considerable extent and also prevent swinging of the sign body 10.

The sign may be readily placed high above such signs as are usually tacked or pasted or otherwise secured upon a support at points within ready reach of a person applying them. Even when the improved tool set forth in the copending application before referred to is not employed, the length of the rod 11 will permit the driving of the piercing point 14 into the tree or other support 16 at a height considerably above the person applying the sign and after such piercing point is driven into place, a stick.

or a pole or the like may be employed for engaging the outer end of the rod 11 and lifting it into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, which position is that in which the rod 11 is substantially horizontal.

The sign with its bendable connection and piercing point provides a very economical and easily applied structure which stands out from a support in contradistinction to signs such as usually applied flat against the support, wherefore the sign commands attention, may be easily read, is protected against accumulations which usually lodge between a support and a sign applied flat thereagainst, and by the use of the braces 18 the sign is rendered rigid and capable of resisting wind pressure.

Vhat is claimed is 1. A sign provided with a piercing portion having a bendable connection with the sign and adaptedto be driven into a support at any convenient driving angle, the bendable portion permit-ting the sign to be moved to and maintain the desired display angle after the piercing portion has been driven into the support.

2. A sign comprising a body portion and a rod or arm carrying the body portion and of greater length than said body portion, said rod being provided with a piercing member at one end and adapted to receive blows of a driving implement at the other end, and the piercing portion and rod being joined by a bendable connection capable of maintaining the position to which it is bent, whereby the piercing portion may be driven into a support at an inclination and the rod may then be moved about the bendable portion as an axis into a desired angle for the display of the sign.

3. A sign comprising an arm or rod, a body portion carried by and in the installed position depending from the arm or rod, and a piercing point at one end of the rod adapted to be driven into a support by blows delivered against the other end of the rod, said piercing point having a bendable connection with the rod capable of maintaining the position to which it is bent, whereby the piercing point when in alinement with the rod may be driven into the support at a convenient driving angle and the rod may then be bent into another angle with rela* tion to the support for the proper display of the sign body.

1. A sign comprising a body portion, and a supporting arm or rod therefor terminating at one end in a piercing point having a bendable connection with the rod capable of maintaining the position to which it is bent, and said piercing point initially alining with the rod, whereby the piercing point may be driven into a support by pressure applied lengthwise of the rod with the latter at any convenient angle of application to the support when the piercing point is entering the support, and the arm and body portion being adapted to be subsequently moved at the connection between the rod and piercing point into the desired display angle.

5. A sign comprising a body portion and a carrying member therefor terminating at one end in a piercing point and connected to the carrying member by a localized bendable portion capable of maintaining the position to which it is bent, whereby the piercing point may be driven into a support by blows applied to the carrying member with the latter at any convenient angle, and the carrying member may be then moved about the localized bendable portion into another angle of display without curving or distorting the carrying member.

6. A sign comprising a body portion and a rod carrying the body portion, said rod terminating at one end in a piercing point connected to the rod by a laterally expanded portion constituting a localized bendable portion, whereby the'piercing point may be driven into a support with the rod at any desired angle thereto and the rod may be then moved about the bendable portion into a desired display angle without bending or distorting the rod.

7. A sign comprising a body, a rod longer than and secured to the body and provided at one end with a piercing point beyond the corresponding end of the body, said point being joined to the rod by a bendable connection with the piercing point initially in line with the rod capable of maintaining the position to which it is bent, whereby blows delivered to the other end of the rod may be transmitted through the bendable portion to the piercing point to drive the piercing point into a support and the rod may then be moved about the bendable portion into a desired angle with respect to the piercing point for the display of the sign body.

8. A sign provided with a piercing point adapted to be driven into a support at any convenient driving angle, and a. localized bendable connection between the piercing point and the sign for the subsequent movement of the sign into and permanent maintenance of a display position 'other than the angle at which it is driven into the support.

9. A sign comprising an arm, a body depending from the arm in the installed position of the sign, a piercing point on one end of the arm adapted to be driven into a support, a bendable connection between the piercing point and the arm and about which the arm may be moved into a desired display angle subsequent to the driving of the lpiercing point into the support, a brace hinged to the body and adapted to extend toward the support, and a second piercing point on that end of the brace remote from the body for engagement in the support to hold the brace in position.

10. A sign comprising a rod or arm having a piercing point at one end with a bendable connection to the rod, whereby the latter may be moved on the bendable connection from the position of driving the piercing point into a support into another angular position to the support, a sign body carried by the rod or arm, and a pair of braces hinged to opposite sides of the body at points remote from the supporting rod or arm and adapted to extend toward the support, said brace arms having piercing points at the ends remote from the sign 4for engagement in the support to secure the braces in adjusted positions thereto.

11. A sign comprising an arm, an adjustable piercing point at the inner end of the arm adapted to be driven into a support by blows of a hammer upon the other end of the arm, and said arm being adapted to be bent into the desired display angle, a body hung upon the arm, a pair of braces hinged at one end against opposite sides of the body and having 'ln-heads at their other ends eX- tending obliquely thereacross and pointed at their extremities to provide piercing prongs, said piercing prongs 'of the braces being adapted to be driven into the support by blows of a. driving implement against those extremities of the heads remote from the piercing prongs.l

12. A sign comprising a body, a rod or arm for supporting the body and projecting from that portion of the body constituting the upper edge thereof in the installed position, and bracing means connected to and Y projecting from that portion of the body constituting Vthe lower edge thereof in the installed position, both the bracing means and the rod or arm having terminals formed Y permanently attached penetrating a brace connected to and projecting from that portion of the body constituting the lower edge thereof in the installed position, both the brace and the arm having terminals formed with permanently attached penetrating points and bendable connection between the penetrating points and the parts carrying them.

14. A sign comprising a body, an arm arranged above one edge of the body and projecting from one end thereof and'terminat- 110 ing in a penetrating point, and braces pivotally connected to opposite sides of the body at its other edge and each providedat the end remote from the body with a penetrating point, said braces being arranged so that their penetrating points will engage a support on opposite sides of the vertical plane of the penetrating wpoint of the rod or arm.

in presence of two witnesses. A

ERNEST KREHER.

Y lVitnesses:

E. L. BOUCHARD, MAXV KREHER.

Y Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byraddressng' the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 

